Balancing Chemical Equations

Front

What is a balanced chemical equation?

Back

A balanced chemical equation has the same number of each type of atom on both sides of the equation, indicating that mass is conserved during the reaction.

Front

What are coefficients in a chemical equation?

Back

Coefficients are the larger numbers placed in front of the reactants and products in a chemical equation that indicate the number of molecules or moles of each substance.

Front

What are reactants in a chemical equation?

Back

Reactants are the substances that undergo a chemical change and are found on the left side of a chemical equation.

Front

What are products in a chemical equation?

Back

Products are the substances formed as a result of a chemical reaction and are found on the right side of a chemical equation.

Front

What is the difference between coefficients and subscripts?

Back

Coefficients can be changed to balance a chemical equation, while subscripts indicate the number of atoms in a molecule and cannot be changed.

Front

What does the subscript in H2O represent?

Back

The subscript '2' in H2O indicates that there are two hydrogen atoms for every one oxygen atom in a water molecule.

Front

Why is it important to balance chemical equations?

Back

Balancing chemical equations is important because it reflects the law of conservation of mass, ensuring that matter is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction.

Front

What is the first step in balancing a chemical equation?

Back

The first step in balancing a chemical equation is to write the unbalanced equation and count the number of atoms of each element on both sides.

Front

What is a skeleton equation?

Back

A skeleton equation is a chemical equation that shows the reactants and products but not the coefficients needed to balance it.

Front

What is the role of a catalyst in a chemical reaction?

Back

A catalyst is a substance that speeds up a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process, but it does not affect the balance of the equation.